Today’s Poll

Neptunes have eyes on Provincials as team prepares for Kootenay Regional Meet in Colville

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
August 3rd, 2016

The numbers game doesn’t seem to scare the Nelson Neptunes.

Despite being kicked out of home due to renovations to the Nelson and District Aquatic Centre, which has severely curtailed registration, the Neptunes continue to be a force on the Kootenay Summer Swim Association circuit.

And now Neptune swimmers take aim at the grand prize of the season, a berth in the BC Summer Swim Association Championships when the circuit shifts to Colville this weekend for the Regional Meet.

“With the Nelson pool closure, the Neptunes have one of the smallest teams, if not the smallest, team in the region, but are still able to finish in the top three rankings at meets,” coach Cynthia Pfeiffer told The Nelson Daily.

“Points are based on overall team points (but) if points were divided by points per swimmer, I’m positive the Neptunes would be winning the meets.”

Neptunes opened the season by capturing its own meet at its temporary training pool in Salmo.

Pfeiffer and Company then posted a third-place finish in Castlegar behind the host Aquanauts and Grand Forks Piranhas before finishing third again in Colville. The host squad again won the meet with Castlegar second.

At an out-of-region meet in Golden, with many larger clubs from Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Kamloops, Nelson finished fifth overall.

“Highlights of these meets include Jaylen Rushton’s 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and 100 individual medley meet records, Ella Chouinard completing the 400 individual medley, and Division three girls relay Kallie Badry, Ella Chouinard, Morgan Robertson-Weir and Chloe Malenfant out touching the Castlegar Aquanauts by .01 at their home meet, taking first place,” Pfeiffer explained.

Now that the regular season has concluded, Neptune swimmers have been gearing up for this weekend’s Regionals at Colville.

“Going into regionals we are hoping for a top two finish,” Pfeiffer said.

“We have finished in the top two for the last two season, where last year we were 29 points from first place,” she added.

“Unfortunately with our numbers down, it will be a big challenge but these Neptunes have what it takes.”

Swimmers who place in the top three individually during the Regionals will qualify for the Provincial Championships held in Coquitlam August 19-21.

Categories: Sports

Other News Stories

Opinion